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2301
[The cowherds cruelty towards the Lord
own way filled their stomachs and returned to the place where the lord was standing in meditation. On the way the cowherds could not see their cows etc. The cowherds were much disappointed after a long search, and they returned to the place where the lord was standing in meditation. Seeing their cattle near the lord, they felt very glad but all sorts of suspicious ideas came into their minds. They began to discuss together thus. This is the ascetic who concealed our oxen; this is the person who troubled us so much; it was his cunning trick to hide the cattle. It was our good luck that we got back the oxen. No one knows how long he will stay here. He put our lives in danger on the very first day, who knows what misfortunes would follow if he stayed here longer. Why should we not, then, drive him away, this very day. If he is not punished for his very first mischief, he would feel encouraged to commit many more.'
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So saying, they snacked the Lord with the ropes lying on their shoulders. The cowherds beat the Lord to their full but he did not utter a word in return. Not to say of uttering a word, he was not at all moved from his meditation. Our lord had discarded all physical pride; it was, therefore, impossible for him to think of these things. The Lord took the cruel deed of the cowherds for the repayment of some of his past karmas. Consequently, instead of hatred and malice towards them his love, increased for those bags. O Lord, victory to thee! There is no other person in the world, today, who can be so forbearing in the reaping of the fruits of his karmas, in spite of his physical, spiritual and moral strength. But O Lord, if you had not borne all these ordeals patiently and allowed in your mind the slightest notion of revenge, how could this cruel world, which is very exacting in its tests,
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